Method and apparatus for assisting speech and hearing impaired subscribers using the telephone and central office

ABSTRACT

A system and method for Assisting Speech And Hearing-impaired Subscribers Using The Telephone And Central Office is disclosed. The present invention in some preferred embodiments permits remote customization of Central Office resources on behalf of a specific subscriber, and also allows the subscriber to test the customization before deployment. The present invention helps advance the art of telephony voice assistance by adding mechanisms to solve problems present in standalone environments. The method on the system comprises the steps of: receiving a communication session request from a first party using a first user unit; and determining if the first party is speech-impaired, and if the first party is speech-impaired, then performing the sub-steps of: prompting the first party for text input; receiving the text input from the first party; converting the text input, using a Text-to-Speech resource, to an audio output; and sending the audio output to a second party.

PARTIAL WAIVER OF COPYRIGHT

All of the material in this patent application is subject to copyrightprotection under the copyright laws of the United States and of othercountries. As of the first effective filing date of the presentapplication, this material is protected as unpublished material.

However, permission to copy this material is hereby granted to theextent that the copyright owner has no objection to the facsimilereproduction by anyone of the patent documentation or patent disclosure,as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patentfile or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to the field of telephony services andmore particularly to the field of telephony speech recognition servicesand telephony speech services synthesis over a communications network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of telephone over PSTN (public switch telephone network)continues to grow at a tremendous rate. Recently, the use of theInternet and voice over IP has been gaining popularity as well.

The use of the telephone although easy for most people can beproblematic for individuals with diminished hearing or speechcapabilities. It is common for individuals who have diminished hearingor speech capabilities to feel discouraged when having to use thetelephone. Special devices to improve the quality of participation forspeech impaired individuals in a telephony conversation are widelyavailable. One example of a device is a simple amplifier for amplifyingthe volume of the receiver's handset. This solution works well for manyhearing impaired individuals; however, the use of a simple amplifierwill not work for many other impaired individuals.

A system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,433, with inventorsYashchin, et al., entitled “Speech synthesis method for operatorassistance telecommunications calls comprising a plurality oftext-to-speech (TTS) devices” describes a method and apparatus forproviding automated operator services and in particular, a reversedirectory assistance service. A calling customer is connected to anautomated system that prompts the caller for a listing identifier whichis used by the system to retrieve a textual listing corresponding to thelisting identifier from a database of textual listings. The textuallisting contains a TTS ID, which identifies a particular one TTS devicefrom a plurality of TTS devices and the listing is optionallypreprocessed and parsed into a plurality of fields that define thelisting. The listing text is then sent to the particular one TTS devicefor text to speech synthesis of the text contained within the listing.The method further includes teaching the system which one TTS device ofthe plurality of TTS devices, best synthesizes the text contained withinthe listing and then identifying that one TTS device within the listingso that subsequent synthesis will utilize that TTS device.

Another system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,877, with inventorsEric. A. Dorsey et al., entitled “Verbal computer terminal system” for atelephonic data communications system provides verbal communication ofdata in remote computer systems. The major components of the systems area plurality of channels and a data processor. Each channel includes atext-to-speech translator for translating digitally stored textual datainto analogue speech signals corresponding to the verbal expression ofthe textual data; a telephone interface for establishing a telephonicconnection with a caller; and an RS232 port for accessing a data base ina remote host computer system. The data processor includes software forcontrolling the communications protocols used by each channel, wherebyeach channel emulates a computer terminal suitable for communicationwith the remote computer system connected to that channel, and softwarefor extracting selected data from the data received from the remotecomputer system. This system enables one to telephonically receive datafrom a remote computer without the need for a computer terminal andwithout needing to reprogram the remote computer to communicate with thetelephonic data communication system.

Yet another system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,710,806, withinventors Peter Lee et al., entitled “Telecommunications device for thehearing impaired with telephone, text communication and answering, andautomated voice carryover” for a telecommunication device for thehearing impaired having the capability of sending text communicationsvia a telephone-style keypad and receiving text communications fordisplay on an LCD display in addition to providing standard telephonevoice communications. The telecommunications device automates voicecarryover (VCO) calls and provides automatic answering and recordingcapability for text messages on the same telephone line as a voiceanswering machine and or a facsimile machine. The telecommunicationsdevice further includes means for selectively adjusting theamplification of received voice messages and sent voice messages toprovide maximum amplification of said received voice messages withoutproducing feedback oscillation or to provide maximum amplification ofsent voice messages without producing feedback oscillation. Thetelecommunications device further including means for minimizing effectof the reflected impedance of the telephone line on signal transmissionand optimizing the coupling of signals to the telephone line.

All these systems, although useful, are not without their shortcomings.To begin, all of these systems require that the user buy customequipment, such as Teletype terminals and other specialty terminaldevices. The expense of the required end-user telecommunication devicescould be prohibitive. Accordingly, a need exists for a method andapparatus to provide individuals, who have diminished hearing or speechcapabilities, with the ability to communicate, via telephone, withoutthe need to purchase specialty terminal devices.

In other words, currently, telephony voice assistance devices requirespecialized hardware and software at the end user's location,restricting user access to that particular location. Moreover,provisions for customizing voice assistance resources in standaloneenvironments are normally not provided, and the standard synthesizedvoice model used to speak text is unable to express gender, accenting,or modify the rate at which text is spoken. The user is left with aninflexible, costly, restrictive facility that requires maintenance andreplacement.

Another shortcoming with system available today is the lack of Internetsupport. The convergence of telephone over the Internet in telephony IPcontinues to grow. The use of Web-based services continues to grow suchas those available by DialPad.com. Moreover, many of the web-basedservices are lower cost or even free to consumers. However, none ofthese new services address the needs for individuals who have diminishedhearing or speech capabilities over the Internet. Accordingly, a needexists to provide services to overcome the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With recent advancements in computing and telephony technology, there isa new method for individuals who are hearing or speech impaired toparticipate in telephony conversations. Devices for speech and hearingimpaired individuals to communicate via the telephone do exist; however,they do not utilize a Central Office service. This invention providesthat service. Using a computer and subscribing to a Central Office (CO)service, hearing or speech impaired individuals can allocate and useCentral Office Text-To-Speech (TTS) and Speech Recognition (SRECO)resources to communicate, on their behalf.

Accordingly, there is provided a system and method for individuals whoare hearing or speech impaired to participate in telephonyconversations. The major components of the system include atext-to-speech (TTS) translator, a speech recognition server (SRECO), atelephonic interface, a Central Office, a Voice Response Unit (VRU), aSubscriber Database (VASDB), a data base access interface, a ClientApplication (ClientApp), a Web Server interface, and an ISCP (IntegratedService Control Point) of an AIN (Advanced Intelligent Network) forcontrolling and coordinating the other parts.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method forcommunications in a network that includes a Central Office and anAdvance Intelligent Network system, wherein the Central Office iscoupled to a plurality of user units is disclosed. The method on theAdvance Intelligent Network system comprising the steps of: receiving acommunication session request from a first party using a first userunit; and determining if the first party is speech impaired, and if thefirst party is speech impaired, then performing the sub-steps of:prompting the first party for text input; receiving the text input fromthe first party; converting the text input, using a Text-to-Speechresource, to an audio output; and sending the audio output to a secondparty.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion ofthe specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, andadvantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. For afuller understanding of the advantages provided by the invention,reference should be made to the following detailed description togetherwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an architectural diagram, of a PSTN network with anAIN system and Central office, for carrying out the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of, the beginning of a communication session,and, authentication of parties (an impaired and a PSTN party), accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of, allocation of appropriate resources, endingwith a determination of a party's status, according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of the communications session between a SI anda non-impaired party, according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of, the communications session between aHearing-Impaired (HI) party and a non-impaired party, according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of, the communications session between a partythat is both Speech Impaired (SI) and Hearing-Impaired (HI), and anon-impaired party, according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments are Exemplary

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetailed preferred embodiment of the invention with the understandingthat the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification ofthe principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broadaspect of the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will bedescribed with particular reference to the presently preferredembodiments, wherein these innovative teachings are advantageouslyapplied to the particular problems of Systems And Methods For AssistingSpeech And Hearing-Impaired Subscribers Using The Telephone And CentralOffice. However, it should be understood that these embodiments are onlyexamples of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachingsherein. In general, statements made in the specification of the presentapplication do not necessarily limit any of the various claimedinventions. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventivefeatures but not to others. In general, unless otherwise indicated,singular elements may be in the plural and visa versa with no loss ofgenerality.

Exemplary Method

An exemplary general present invention method may best be understood byreferencing the system diagrams of FIG. 1 and the exemplary flowchartsof FIGS. 2-6. These diagrams will now be discussed in detail.

One skilled in the art will recognize that these steps may be rearrangedand/or augmented with no loss of generality in the teachings of thepresent invention.

The teachings of the present invention are sufficiently broad to notlimit the manner in which the above mentioned steps are to be performedas well as not limiting the method to any particular hardware, operatingsystem, API, or graphical user interface. Thus, while the particularinformation gathered within the context of FIGS. 1-6 and the specificfunction calls listed in the exemplary flowcharts are preferred for someembodiments, they are by no means Limitive of the present inventionteachings or the scope thereof.

Exemplary System Architecture

One example where the present invention can be reduced to practice isusing on the IBM AIX Multi-Services Platform (MSP) comprising a CallManager (CM), a VoiceAide WebServer Interface, a VoiceAide SubscriberDatabase (VASDB), a Text-To-Speech Server (TTS), a Voice Response Unit(DT6 VRU), a QuickPay Subscriber-Client Interface Application(VA-ClientApp) and a Speech Recognition Server (SRECO).

FIG. 1 is an architectural block diagram of a PSTN network with an AINsystem and central office for carrying out the present invention. A PSTN(Public Switched Telephone Network) subscriber using handset telephone102 is connected through the PSTN network 108 to a user using a dataprocessing system 104 running an application such as a Web browser foraccessing data on the Web server 106 over the PSTN network 108. Anintegrated service control point (ISCP) 130, has a data connection 136to the PSTN network 108. With the AIN (Advanced Intelligent Network)connected to the central office (CO) and data communications network(DCN). The AIN system is well known and is an architecture thatseparates service logic from switching equipment, allowing new servicesto be added without having to redesign switches to support new services.It encourages competition among service providers since it makes iteasier for a provider to add services and it offers customers moreservice choices. The AIN system was first developed by BellCommunications Research, AIN is recognized as an industry standard inNorth America. The ISCP 130 along with the generic data interface (GDI)128 and element management system (EMS) 126 and the AIN system providesservices to subscribers such as call forwarding, three-way calling, findme and other services.

The Web server 106 can be an IBM PC or any other data processor havingsimilar or better capabilities. The customer at the telephone 102 isreferred to as a PSTN party, or, a non-impaired party, or,alternatively, a second party, or, a destination party. The customer atthe data processing system 104 is referred to as an impaired party or afirst party.

The Text-To-Speech Servers (TTS) 116 are used to convert text, from aClient Application 104, to speech and to play to a PSTN party 102. TheTTS Servers are connected via a Local Area Network (LAN). The TTSservers 116 are accessed via a DirectTalk/6000 TTS Custom Server,available from IBM Corporation that also interfaces with the (VoiceAide) Web Server 106. A messaging interface is established between theWeb Server 106 and the TTS Custom Server to carry requests, to converttext, received from the VA subscriber 104 to the appropriate TTS serverresource 116.

The Speech Recognition Servers (SRECO) 118 are used to recognize wordsspoken by the PSTN party. The recognized spoken words are returned astext from SRECO Servers 118 and are sent to a Client Application 104 todisplay to an impaired party at 104. The SRECO Servers 118 are connectedvia a LAN using ATM switch 122. The servers are accessed via aDirectTalk/6000 Custom Server that also interfaces with a VACall StateTable and TTS Server 116.

A Voice Response Unit allows prerecorded menus of information to beplayed to a subscriber 102 or 104 and have selections made with voice ortouch tone keypad input (i.e., DTMF—dual tone multiple frequency). TheVoice Response Unit 112 is connected between the ATM switch 122 and thePSTN 108 to match voice output from the TTS 116 such as 8 k Mulaw outputwhich is compatible with the PSTN network 198.

A Subscriber Database (VASDB) 114 is used to hold subscriberauthentication information to ensure that only authorized subscribersare allowed to use the service. Further, the VASDB 114 is used to storeVA subscriber TTS and SRECO customization attribute values for TTS 116and SRECO 118 resources. All units interface to one another via anIntranet or Internet 110 and messaging between the units is TCP/IPbased.

It should be understood that although these are shown as separatesystem, i.e., Web Server 106, Voice Response Unit 112, SubscriberDatabase 114, TTS 116, SRECO 118 and Billing 120, any or all of thesecomponents may be combined into a single system such as the IBM MSP/600system.

Registration and Authentication

Upon registering for a new service via the local Central Office (CO)124, a subscriber can allocate and use CO TTS 116 and SRECO 118resources to communicate with a non-impaired party 102.

First, a subscriber registers for VoiceAide service. At this stage, anentry, corresponding to the particular subscriber 104, is added to theVASDB 114. The entry contains the subscriber's registration informationand default TTS customization attribute values. Subscriber registrationinformation contains the subscriber's account number and pin code. Theaccount number and pin code provide secured access to the subscriber'saccount and act as a pointer to TTS customization information in theVASDB 114.

Referring now to FIG. 2 and FIG. 1, when a subscriber 104 or a PSTNparty 102 wants to communicate (at step 202) with one another, the WebServer Interface 110 requests authentication of the subscriber. Next,the subscriber inputs the subscriber's account number and pin code viathe Client App 104. The account number is used to search (at step 204)the VASDB 114 for the subscriber's registration information.Verification of the pin code and account number is performed at VASDB114. If the successful, the service proceeds to next stage. If theVerification is not successful, the service re-prompts the subscriberfor verification, or routes the customer to a help desk (not shown).

Next, the VoiceAide (VA) service notifies the subscriber of the resultsof authentication and asynchronously initiates an outbound call (at step304) to the destination party, or notifies the subscriber of an incomingcall from the PSTN party. When the PSTN party 102 answers, a prompt isplayed indicating the call received is from a Central Office VoiceAideServer 110 for the impaired subscriber 104. The name of the subscriberis played to the PSTN party along with rules (at step 306) for the VoiceAide call. Next, the PSTN party 102 is asked to hold while notificationof call establishment is sent to the subscriber 104 (at steps 310 and312). After call establishment notification is received, the subscriber104 gains control of the communication of conversation. Here, theconversation control is transferred between the PSTN party and thesubscriber until the call is terminated. The subscriber 104 is promptedfor Input at step 314. When the subscriber inputs information at 104, itis received by the VA service, more specifically by the Web Server 110,at step 316. Next, the VA service determines (at step 318) whether thesubscriber is Hearing-Impaired, Speech Impaired or both Speech andHearing-Impaired. Correspondingly, the events described below followaccording to the determination.

Speech Impaired Subscriber (Si)

In the case of a speech impaired subscriber, the Subscriber 104 types amessage which is forwarded (at step 316) to the Web Server Interface110, which in turn uses the allocated Text-to-Speech resource 116 toconvert (at step 402) the subscriber's typed text to audio output. Theaudio output (at step 404) is sent and played to the PSTN destinationparty 102. The Speech Impaired subscriber 104 has the option (at step406) of indicating whether a response to the first message is permittedfrom the PSTN destination party 102, prior to receiving a second messagefrom the Speech Impaired subscriber 104. If the response option is notselected, the PSTN destination party 102 is not permitted to speak. Ifthe response option is selected, the PSTN destination party 102 isprovided a speak-prompt (at step 408), after the subscriber's firstmessage is sent and played. The speak-prompt indicates that theSpeech-Recognition resource, SRECO 118, is active and will recognizespoken words and transmit text information to the Impaired Subscriber104. The Voice Aid Service waits (at step 410) for speech by the PSTNdestination party 102. Next, the Voice Aid Service receives and forwards(at step 412) the speech from the PSTN destination party 102 to theImpaired Subscriber 104. The communication continues in this manner (inother words repeats 316) until the conversation terminates. If the PSTNdestination party 102 terminates, the Impaired party 104 is notifiedthat the PSTN destination party 102 has terminated. If the SpeechImpaired party 104 terminates, the PSTN destination party 102 is playeda special prompt to notify that the Speech Impaired party 104 hasterminated the call.

Speech and Hearing Impaired Subscriber (Both)

In the case of a subscriber that is both speech and Hearing impaired,the impaired subscriber 104 types a message which is forwarded (at step316) to the Web Server Interface 110, which in turn uses the allocatedText-to-Speech resource 116 to convert (at step 602) the subscriber'styped text to audio output. The audio output (at step 604) is sent andplayed to the PSTN destination party 102. The Speech and HearingImpaired subscriber 104 has the option (at step 606) of indicatingwhether a response to the first message is permitted from the PSTNdestination party 102, prior to receiving a second message from theSpeech and Hearing Impaired subscriber 104. If the response option isnot selected, the PSTN destination party 102 is not permitted to speak.If the response option is selected, the PSTN destination party 102 isprovided a speak-prompt (at step 608) after the subscriber's firstmessage is sent and played. The speak-prompt indicates theSpeech-Recognition resource, SRECO 118, is active, can recognize spokenwords, and will convert the spoken words to text, and transmit textinformation to the Impaired Subscriber 104. The Voice Aid Service waits(at step 610) for speech by the PSTN destination party 102. Next, theVoice Aid Service receives (at step 612) the speech from the PSTNdestination party 102, and converts the speech (at step 614) to textusing SRECO 118. Next, the Voice Aid Service forwards (at step 616) thetext to the Speech and Hearing Impaired Subscriber. The communicationcontinues in this manner (in other words repeats 316) until theconversation terminates. If the PSTN destination party 102 terminates,the Speech and Hearing Impaired party 104 is notified that the PSTNdestination party 102 has terminated the communication. If the Speechand Hearing Impaired party 104 terminates, the PSTN destination party102 is played a special prompt to notify that the Speech and HearingImpaired party 104 has terminated the communication session.

Hearing Impaired Subscriber (Hi)

In the case of a Hearing-impaired subscriber, the Subscriber 104 speaks(inputs) a message which is forwarded (at step 316) to the Web ServerInterface 110, which in turn sends the audio output message (at step502) is sent and played to the PSTN destination party 102. The HearingImpaired subscriber 104 has the option (at step 504) of indicatingwhether a response to the first message is permitted from the PSTNdestination party 102, prior to receiving second message from theHearing Impaired subscriber 104. If the response option is not selected,the PSTN destination party 102 is not permitted to speak. If theresponse option is selected, the PSTN destination party 102 is provideda speak-prompt (at step 506) after the subscriber's first message issent and played. The speak-prompt indicates that the Speech-Recognitionresource, SRECO 118, is active, can recognize spoken words, and willconvert the spoken words to text, and transmit text information to theHearing-Impaired Subscriber 104. The Voice Aid Service waits (at step508) for speech by the PSTN destination party 102. Next, the Voice AidService receives and converts (at step 510) the speech, from the PSTNdestination party 102, to text using SRECO 118. Next, the Voice AidService forwards (at step 512) the text to the Hearing ImpairedSubscriber. The communication continues in this manner (in other wordsrepeats 316) until the conversation terminates. If the PSTN destinationparty 102 terminates, the Hearing Impaired party 104 is notified thatthe PSTN destination party 102 has terminated the communication. If theHearing Impaired party 104 terminates, the PSTN destination party 102 isplayed a special prompt to notify that the Hearing Impaired party 104has terminated the communication session.

In the present invention, TTS and SRECO conversion and playback areperformed in real-time. Further customization of a TTS resource isprovided to permit a subscriber to present a consistent voice interfaceto regularly called PSTN parties.

Two Modes: Initiation and Reception of the Call by Subscriber

VoiceAide can operate in two modes, specifically, initiation mode andreceive mode. In the Initiation mode, a registered subscriber 104initiates an outbound call via VoiceAide; In the Receive mode, VoiceAidenotifies a registered subscriber 104 at the Internet connected terminalof an incoming call. Once a call is established at the VRU 112, theVoiceAide service is run. Prompts are played to the PSTN connected party102 notifying the party that a Central Office VoiceAide Server 126 isfacilitating the call. The PSTN party 102 is informed that TTS 116 andSRECO 118 will be used in the call and that the PSTN party 102 will beplayed tones or queues instructing as to when to speak and listen.

Initiation by Subscriber

To initiate a call from an Internet connected Client App 104, asubscriber inputs an account number, a pin code, and the telephonenumber of the destination party 102. If authentication of the accountnumber and pin code is successful (at step 204), a message is sent tothe Client App 104 indicating to the subscriber that the call is inprogress. Once the call is connected, the PSTN connected party 102 isnotified (at step 306) by the VRU 112 that the call is from an VoiceAidesubscriber 104 and that a CO VoiceAide Server 110 will facilitate thesession. The PSTN party 102 is informed of the session rules and isasked to hold while call establishment notification is sent (at step312) to the VoiceAide subscriber 104.

Once the VoiceAide subscriber receives call establishment notification,the subscriber is presented with a screen (at step 314) to input text.Upon typing text, the subscriber presses a button on a VA-ClientApp menuto send the typed text to the VoiceAide Server 110. The text received atthe server 110 is converted to speech and spoken to the PSTN connectedparty 102. Once the converted text is spoken, a prompt or queue isplayed to the PSTN party 102 requesting a response. If there is noresponse, a message is sent to the VA-ClientApp informing the VAsubscriber 104 to type and send the next message. Communicationcontinues in this manner until the PSTN party 102 hangs up or until theVA subscriber 104 presses the hang-up button on the VA-ClientApp menu.

Reception of the Call by Subscriber

To receive a VoiceAide call, the VA subscriber accesses a VA-ClientAppfrom a Central Office WebPage and downloads it to the terminal 104. Theactive VA-ClientApp waits for an incoming call notification request fromthe VoiceAide Server 110. The subscriber may also choose to terminatethe wait and initiate an outbound call, instead.

The subscriber 104 receives an incoming call notification in the form ofa pop-up menu. The pop-up menu contains Caller ID information also. Thesubscriber answers the incoming call by pressing the answer button onthe VA-ClientApp menu. Next, the subscriber is asked to provide aVoiceAide account number and pin code for authentication. Ifauthentication is successful, the call continues in the manner as if theVA subscriber 104 had initiated the call.

Customization

In both of the aforementioned modes, the subscriber can customize a TTSresource. To customize a TTS resource, the subscriber presses acustomize button on the VA-ClientApp menu. The next menu requires thesubscriber to enter a VA account number and pin code. If authenticationis successful, the subscriber is shown a menu of TTS voice attributes.The subscriber can modify values in the voice attribute fields and alsocan test the modifications by pressing a play button on the TTScustomization menu. This causes a sample phrase to be converted tospeech using the new attribute values and downloaded to the subscriber'sterminal 104.

After completing TTS voice customization, a subscriber 104 can savecustomization values in the VASDB 114 with their associatedauthentication information. When a VA call is initiated or received, thesaved values will be used in the TTS conversion process.

In the present invention, the VoiceAide VRU 112 can be directlyconnected to the Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) 106 or can beconnected to an intermediate switch 120 that is connected to the PSTN106. Further, the VoiceAide service can be written in any language, theVRU programming interface can support, or the service platform on whichit resides.

Termination

When the VA subscriber 104 or the PSTN party 102 terminates the VA call,resources associated with the call are freed. In one embodiment, toterminate, the VA subscriber 104 selects a hang-up button from theVA-ClientApp menu. Next, the PSTN party 102 is played a prompt. Thisprompt alerts the PSTN party 102 that the call is terminating and tohang-up the telephone.

If the PSTN party 102 terminates first, a text pop-up message will bepresented, by the VA-ClientApp, to alert the VA subscriber 104 that thePSTN party 102 has terminated the call. In response, the VA subscriber104 selects a close button on the pop-up menu. This action frees the COresources associated with the call. Then, the VA-ClientApp waits for thenext incoming call.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been disclosed,those having skill in the art will understand that changes can be madeto this specific embodiment without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. The scope of the invention is not to be restricted,therefore, to the specific embodiment, and it is intended that theappended claims cover any and all such applications, modifications, andembodiments within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for communications in a network thatincludes a Central Office and an Advance Intelligent Network system,wherein the Central Office is coupled to a plurality of user units, themethod on the Advance Intelligent Network system comprising the stepsof: receiving a communication session request from a first party using afirst user unit; and determining if the first party is speech-impaired,and if the first party is speech impaired, then performing the sub-stepsof: prompting the first party for text input includes providing a screenmenu and interface, over an Internet protocol, for typing thereinto bythe first party and providing an option for the first party to indicateif, a response by the second party, to a first message sent by the firstparty is permitted, prior to receiving a second message from the firstparty; receiving the text input from the first party; and converting thetext input, using a Text-to-Speech resource, to an audio output; andsending the audio output to a second party.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the sub-step of sending the audio output to a second partyfurther includes the sub-steps of: providing the second party a promptto verbally respond after audio output is sent to the second party;forwarding a verbal response received to the first party; sending theverbal response to the first party; and receiving the verbal responsefrom the second party.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the sub-step ofsending the verbal response to the first party further includes,determining if the first party is hearing-impaired, and if the firstparty is hearing-impaired, then, performing the conversion of the verbalresponse to text, using a Speech Recognition resource, and sending thetext output to the first party.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein thesub-step of sending the audio output to a second party further includesthe sub-steps of: providing the second party a prompt to verballyrespond after audio output is sent to the second party; forwarding averbal response received to the first party; sending the verbal responseto the first party; and receiving the verbal response from the secondparty; and determining if the first party is hearing-impaired, and ifthe first party is hearing-impaired, then, performing the conversion ofthe verbal response to text, using a Speech Recognition resource, andsending the text output to the first party.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the sub-step of converting the text input to audio outputfurther includes receiving the text input over an Internet protocol. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining if the firstparty is speech-impaired further includes the sub-steps of: receiving anidentifier from the first party; and comparing the identifier receivedwith a pre-stored list of speech-impaired parties.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the sub-step of authenticating the first party furtherincludes the sub-steps of: receiving a value for authentication from thefirst party; and comparing the value received with a pre-stored list ofvalues for the first parties.
 8. A method for communications in anetwork that includes a Central Office and an Advance IntelligentNetwork system, wherein the Central Office is coupled to a plurality ofuser units, the method on the Advance Intelligent Network systemcomprising the steps of: receiving a communication session request fromat least one party to at least a non-impaired party; and determining ifat least one party is speech-impaired, and if at least one party is aspeech-impaired party, then performing the sub-steps of: prompting thespeech-impaired party for text input includes providing a screen menuand interface, over an Internet protocol, for typing thereinto by thespeech-impaired party and providing an option for the speech-impairedparty to indicate if, a response by the non-impaired party, to a firstmessage sent by the speech-impaired party is permitted, prior toreceiving a second message from the speech-impaired party; receiving thetext input from the speech-impaired party; converting the text input tovoice output; and sending the voice output to a non-impaired party. 9.The method of claim 8, wherein the sub-step of sending the audio outputto a non-impaired party further includes the sub-steps of: providing thenon-impaired party a prompt to verbally respond after audio output issent to the non-impaired party; forwarding a verbal response received tothe speech-impaired party; sending the verbal response to thespeech-impaired party; and receiving the verbal response from thenon-impaired party.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the sub-step ofsending the verbal response to the speech-impaired party furtherincludes, determining if the speech-impaired party is hearing-impaired,and if the speech-impaired party is hearing-impaired, then, performingthe conversion of the verbal response to text, using a SpeechRecognition resource, and sending the text output to the speech-impairedparty.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the sub-step of sending theaudio output to a non-impaired party further includes the sub-steps of:providing the non-impaired party a prompt to verbally respond afteraudio output is sent to the non-impaired party; forwarding a verbalresponse received to the first party; sending the verbal response to thespeech-impaired party; and receiving the verbal response from thenon-impaired party; and determining if the speech-impaired party ishearing-impaired, and if the speech-impaired party is hearing-impaired,then, performing the conversion of the verbal response to text, using aSpeech Recognition resource, and sending the text output to thespeech-impaired party.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the substep ofconverting the text input to audio output further includes receiving thetext input over an Internet protocol.
 13. The method of claim 8, whereinthe step of determining if the speech-impaired party is speech-impairedfurther includes the sub-steps of: receiving an identifier from thespeech-impaired party; and comparing the identifier received with apre-stored list of speech-impaired parties.
 14. The method of claim 8,wherein the sub-step of authenticating the speech-impaired party furtherincludes the sub-steps of: receiving a value for authentication from thespeech-impaired party; and comparing the value received with apre-stored list of values for the speech-impaired parties.
 15. Acomputer readable medium containing programming instructions forcommunications in a network that includes a Central Office and anAdvance Intelligent Network system, wherein the Central Office iscoupled to a plurality of user units, the method on the AdvanceIntelligent Network system, the programming instructions comprising:receiving a communication session request from a first party using afirst user unit; and determining if the first party is speech-impaired,and if the first party is speech-impaired, then performing the sub-stepsof: prompting the first party for text input includes providing a screenmenu and interface, over an Internet protocol, for typing thereinto bythe first party and providing an option for the first party to indicateif, a response by the second party, to a first message sent by the firstparty is permitted, prior to receiving a second message from the firstparty; receiving the text input from the first party; and converting thetext input, using a Text-to-Speech resource, to an audio output; andsending the audio output to a second party.
 16. A computer readablemedium containing programming instructions for communications in anetwork that includes a Central Office and an Advance IntelligentNetwork system, wherein the Central Office is coupled to a plurality ofuser units, the method on the Advance Intelligent Network system, theprogramming instructions comprising: receiving a communication sessionrequest from at least one party to at least a non-impaired party; anddetermining if at least one party is speech-impaired, and if at leastone party is a speech-impaired party, then performing the sub-steps of:prompting the speech-impaired party for text input includes providing ascreen menu and interface, over an Internet protocol, for typingthereinto by the speech-impaired party and providing an option for thespeech-impaired party to indicate if, a response by the non-impairedparty, to a first message sent by the speech-impaired party ispermitted, prior to receiving a second message from the speech-impairedparty; receiving the text input from the speech-impaired party;converting the text input to voice output; and sending the voice outputto a non-impaired party.
 17. An Advance Intelligent Network system forcommunicating a network that includes a Central Office, wherein theCentral Office is coupled to a plurality of user units, the AdvancedIntelligent Network system comprising: means for receiving acommunication session request from a first party using a first userunit; and determining if the first party is speech-impaired, and if thefirst party is speech-impaired, then performing the sub-steps of: meansfor prompting the first party for text input includes providing a screenmenu and interface, over an Internet protocol, for typing thereinto bythe first party and providing an option for the first party to indicateif, a response by the second party, to a first message sent by the firstparty is permitted, prior to receiving a second message from the firstparty; means for receiving the text input from the first party; meansfor converting the text input, using a Text-to-Speech resource, to anaudio output; and means for sending the audio output to a second party.18. An Advance Intelligent Network system for communicating a networkthat includes a Central Office, wherein the Central Office is coupled toa plurality of user units, the Advanced Intelligent Network systemcomprising: means for receiving a communication session request from atleast one party to at least a non-impaired party; and means fordetermining if at least one party is speech-impaired, and if at leastone party is a speech-impaired party, then performing means forprompting the speech-impaired party for text input includes providing ascreen menu and interface, over an Internet protocol, for typingthereinto by the speech-impaired party and providing an option for thespeech-impaired party to indicate if, a response by the non-impairedparty, to a first message sent by the speech-impaired party ispermitted, prior to receiving a second message from the speech-impairedparty; means receiving the text input from the speech-impaired party;means for converting the text input to voice output; and sending thevoice output to a non-impaired party.